Enclosure structure



Dec. 5, 1961 P. F. ALBEE, JR 3,011,600

ENcLosURE STRUCTURE Filed Deo. l5, 1957 JNVENTOR.

PERCY FREDERICK ALBEE, JR. 24- By ATTORNEYS tinite States Patent Fatenteoi Bec. 5, i953.

3,011,600 ENCLGSURE S'HIUCTURE Percy Frederick Albee, Jr., Barrington, R. I., assignor to Q-Panel Corporation, a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Dec. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 792,693 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to enclosures having supporting columns and panels therebetween for enclosing such areas, as a patio, terrace, porch or entrances.

Enclosing areas such as enumerated above for protection against insects and/or storms, thus allowing for more enjoyment of such areas to the occupant, has become popular. It is desirable that the enclosures be formed with metal supports and be of a construction which will result in economy of required material `and at the same time result in a sturdy structure capable of withstanding the weather also allowing maximum visibility therefrom and be pleasing to the eye.

It is an object of the invention to provide an enclosure of the above type constructed so as to secure the advantages above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure of the above type which may be readily assembled at the site by the average sldlled person.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure having uprights and panels secured to each other by clamp means.

Another object of the invention is to secure the columns of a wall for the above use to a licor in a way to allow adjustment for aligning and spacing of said uprights.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE l is a iront elevational View of a Wall section embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view on a larger scale of a fragmentary portion of the wall of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View partially in section and on an enlarged scale of a fragmentary portion of the wall of FIGURE l looking in the direction of the arrows on line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a central sectional View of the anchoring means for the uprights of the wall;

FIGURE 8 is a section view taken substantially along line 8 8 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the anchor member shown in FIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, ist designates generally a wall which is adapted for use to enclose a patio, terrace or porch. The wah 1t? comprises a plurality of panels 12 which are supported on posts or mullions 13 'which are made of aluminum material eX- truded in a shape shown in cross section in FIGURE 8, which provides a tubular body le having a front dat side 15 and tins 16 extending from the body 14 on opposite sides thereof to the rear of side 15. These tins 16 extend on a slant toward side 15 and form therewith channels 17, which extend the full length of the mullion. The channels 17 are generally arcuate shape in cross sections and have a restricted opening 18 thereto. ri'he panels 12 are similar to each other and similarly 2 secured to the mullions 13 and therefore only one will be described.

The panel 12 includes generally two or more portions which may be alternately a screen portion 19 and a splash plate portion 20, the latter of which is positioned at the lower portion of the wall. The portion 19 when it takes the form of a screen, comprises a metal woven fabric 21 (see FIG. 4) which is secured at opposite upper and lower marginal edges 22 thereof to cross bars 23, 23 which are identical but oppositely positioned. These cross bars 23, 23' are made of aluminum material eX- truded in a general L shape as shown in cross section in FIGURE 4, having ilat rear sides 24, 24 and right angularly rearwardly extending portions 2S, 25 at one edge of the sides 24, 24. Fins 26, 26 project from the portions 25, 25 on a slant towards sides 2d, 24 and form therewith channels 26C, 26C which are generally arcuate in cross section and have restricted openings 27, 27 thereto. The marginal portion of the sides 24, 24 at the other edge thereof is folded back up on itself as at 23, 28 over the marginal edge 22 of the screen 21 and securely binds the edge 22 therebetween. il-shape ridges 29, 29' may be provided on the opposite faces of the folded back portion to aid in clamping the edges of the screen 21 thereto.

The ends of cross bars 23, 23 are appropriately notched, as seen in FIGURE 3, to engage in the recess 17 of adjacent mullions and there secured in place by a lock spring plate designated generally 3l? (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The lock plate 3d at one end is in a hooi: form 31 with the free end thereof serrated to form teeth 32 and with a heel portion spaced therefrom. The plate extends on avcurve 33 from the heel portions 3l for a substantial length of the plate and then merges into a straight portion 34 having a right angularly extending lip or handle 35 at one edge thereof and a tab 36 projecting from the opposite edge thereof, the tab preferably having an upturned lip at the edge thereof to engage in the channel 26C.

In mounting the screen portion 19 betweenadjacent mullions 13, the ends of the bars 26, 23 are inserted in the channels 17 of the mullions. The heel portion 31 of lock plate 39 is inserted into channel 17 (FIG. 6) with the teeth 32 engaging the wall of the channel 17 and the heel of the hook 31 bearing against rear face 24 of the cross bar 23 or 23', as the case may be. Pressure may now be applied at the portion 34 of the plate to force the same toward` the cross bar so as to register the tab 36 with the channel 26C of the cross bar. The plate 39 may now be swivelled at its fulcrum, adjacent the hook portion 31, to cause the tab "36 to enter channel 26e. It will be seen in FIGURE 6, that the plate 30 will be under spring pressure provided by the flexing of curved portion 33 while the hook 311 engages side 24 in a wedge-like action to firmly clamp said side 24 against the rear of portion 1S of the mullion. Preferably the bar 23', which is at the bottom of the panel space between mullions, is secured to the adjacent mullions first and then the bar 23 is secured in the same manner and the screen cloth therebetween tensicned by striking the plate 3i) adjacent hook portion 31 so that the bar 23 and plate 3D are driven upwardly in channel 17.

t will be apparent that the longitudinal edges of the screen cloth Z1 will also lie in channel 17 and to eilect a tight joint therein, U-clips 37 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) are provided so that the longitudinal edge of cloth 21 is bound against the walls of channel 17. These clips are positioned at spaced intervalsialong the said longitudinal edges and are of a general U-shape with the ends turned outwardly to form lips 3S. rEhe clips are forced past the edge of the screen 21 to nest into channels 17 with the lip 3S adjacent to the screen having a line contact therewith which re-v Y 3. siliently clamps the said edges of screen 2f. to the rear of the face i5 or" the mullions.

A spreader bar 49, FIGURE, is positioned to extend between adjacent mullions at the lower end thereof. This spreader bar 4d is also made of aluminum material extruded in a general K shape as shown which forms channels 4i and 42. The ends of the bar 4o are appropriately notched to be received Within the channel i7 of the mullions in a way similar to the cross bars 23. A similar spreader 4o is positioned adjacent the lower cross bar 23 but in inverse position which places the channel 4l thereof opposite to the channel 41 of spreader 4i?. A generally rectangular sheet Vplate 43, preferably Y aluminum, has opposite edges thereof inserted into the channels 41, 41 and the other edges thereof received in channels 17 of the mulliens. The spreader bars bill, 4G are secured to the rnullions by lock spring plates 3i) in a manner similar t0 that previously described, the tab 36 extending in the channel 4l to hold the plate in clamping relation. T he cross bars 23 have a tin 44 projecting outwardly from the outer side of portion 25' which is received within the channel 42 of the spreader bar positioned adjacent thereto which closes the junction of the cross bar and spreader bar to the passage of insects. it will be apparent that, by Vusing a plate such as 43, various pitches or inclines of the'surface may be accommodated by merely placing the bar 4d on the base surface and cutting the plate 43 to the required Shape, thus facilitating many installations. t

in certain installations it is desirable that additional stiening members be provided between the mullions and to that end I have shown what might be termed a chair rail et?. This rail may be of general L-shape (FIG. 4) with a at portion 61 that is adapted to lie against the Screen cloth 21. As with the screen cloth, the'rail is secured in the channels 17 by the spring clips 37 in the same manner- Y The present invention is shown in connection with a particularV area having a cement lioor 45. The mullions l are each attached to the floor 45 by means of an anchor generally designated 45', see FGURES 7 9, which is received within the bore of a mullion and provided with a hole i7 therethrough for receiving an expansion bolt 48 Vwwhich secures the anchor to said floor. The anchor cornprises a generally cylindrical block having a semi-circular fan-shaped portion 49 which extends on a radius equal to Athe 'radius of the bore of the mullions. The radius extends from'a center which is concentricwith the center of said bore but is eccentric with respect to the center of hole 47. The semi-circular portion is slotted as at Si) radially inardly from the periphery to form resilient generally V- 'shape sections for a purpose which will presently appear. An axially extending slot 51 intersects the hole 47 which allows expansion for frictionally engaging the expansion bolt 4e.

The expansion bolt 48 may be of any known manufacture, that herein shown having an enlarged head 52 and a shank 53 provided with spaced annularridges 54 and having an axial central Vslot 55 which extends inwardly from the end of the shank. Abore S6 extendsY inwardly from the head 52 and intersects the Slot 5 5. The bore 56 is larger in diameter than the width of slot 55 and frictionaliy receives a nail-like element or pin 57 which when driven intothe bolt engages the Ysides of the slot 55, and will spread the ,slottedshank portionY so that it .will

engage the wall of the hole 53 drilled in the door 45 forV receiving said shank.

lt is known in drilling a hole through concrete, that a hard spot such as stoneY inthe path of the drill will guide the same od `center.V Thus, it is quite dilicult to drill a Vplurality of holes of predetermined diameter in a concrete iioor and maintain'said holes in accurate predetermined spacing. It is also well known in Vthe building art uprights, sntddingsposts and the like may be out of lineV from 1A@ tog/i5 of an inch and the unaided eye will not usually discern such misalign'ment. Further, from a commercial .stand-point it is necessary to utilize standard width panelsV 12, particularly with screen cloth, so that accurate spacing of the mullions 13 is necessary. in the present instance any inacuracy in the Spacing of holes 58 is compensated for, in part, by the anchors 46. In securing the anchors to the floor 45 with the anchor in place on the door with the hole 47 in registry with hole 5S, the bolt 48 is driven through the hole 47 to the hole 58 which will spread the wall of hole 47 to frictionally engage the shank 53 and firmly hold the bolt and anchor to each other to move one with the other. The anchor and the bolt frictionally held thereto may now be turned about the axis of the bolt to space the anchors the proper distance apart. This may be readily accomplished by positioning short lengths of mullions about the anchors and turning the same about the axis of the bolt 4S the required amount, so as to align and space the mullions, thereafter driving the element 57 portionrengaging a wall of said channel, and the ot through hole S6 to engage and spread shank 53 against Wall of opening 5S as previously described which will irrnly secure the anchor to the floor -45 in the adjusted position. The mullions may now be telescoped on the anchors and drilled to receive a self-tapping screw 61 to engage in slot Sil to spread the adjacent V-section into firm frictional engagement with the bore of the mullion. Thus, a slight rotation of the fan-shaped portion 49 adjusts the spacing of the mullions Without materially disturbing the alignment Y by reason or" the small diameterV of hole 47 compared with the large internal diameter of the mullion.

It will be understood that the enclosing areas, of which the wall section described above forms a part, will include other walls, doors, and a roof which have not been shown or described since they form no part of the present invention. It will also be understood that the order of assembling the various parts ofthe wall described need not be made inl the order described and that in practice itis best to iirst erect the mullions in place and then attach the panel sections thereto.

'From the above, it will be apparent that the tendency of aluminum or other metals to bind upon themselves where adjacent parts are forced together, is being utilized in the structure for obtaining torsional rigidity and consequently additional strength yof joints. Basically, the binding tendency is caused by electrolytic or oxidizing action and it will therefore become apparent that some metals will bind to each other better than others.

I claim:

l. A building structure having a wall provided with spaced mullions each fashioned with a channel thereon extending lengthwise of said mullion, a panel of predetermined width having'its vertical edges received in said channels of adjacent mullions, a cross bar having each end thereof received in the channels of adjacent mullions and having a complemental length to the width of said panel, said cross bar extending from saidrnullions generally normal thereto and adapted to receive a horizontal edge of said panel, and means for binding said cross bar to said channel comprising an arched spring plate having one end thereof extending into said channel and provided with a heel engaged against said cross bar and an offset her end of said plate extending into resilient engagement with said cross har in the portion receiving said panel at a location spaced fromsaid channel. A

2. A building structure having a wall including a mullion with a channel thereon extending lengthwise of said mullion, a cross bar having one end thereof of a thickness lessthan the widthl of the channel, said cross bar received in said channel and extending therefrom generally normalV thereto, and means for binding said cross bar to said channel comprising an arched'Y resilient plate having one end thereof extending into said channel and provided with teeth'eugaging the side Wall of the channel and a heel spaced from the toothed end engaged against said cross bar, and the other end of said plate having means engaging said cross bar to holdY the plate under tension.

5 3. A building structure having a wall provided with spaced mullions each having a channel extending lengthwise thereof with one of the walls being undercut to provide a restricted opening to the full width of the channel, a cross bar of predetermined length extending in the space between said mullions, a panel of a complemented width to the length of said cross bar extending in the space between said mullions with a marginal edge secured to said cross bar, the opposite marginal edges of said panel located in said channels and being of a thickness less than the distance between the side walls of the channels, and resilient U-shape clamps having the bight thereof extending into said channels,` said clamps having an outwardly extending lip at the end of one arm thereof, the lip of one arm engaging said panel and the other arm engaging said wall of the channel for binding said panel to the opposite wall of the channel of said mullions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Axe Aug. 3, Peremi et al. June 7, Crosby Apr. 21, Holmstrom May 16, Millier Sept. 4, Black Jan. 20, Menosky May 12, Lyon Feb. 12, Jannette June 10,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 27, 

